Maritime communication is directly connected with ship safety, distress response, navigational warnings, and coordination between ships and shore authorities. For deck officers and eligible nautical candidates, GMDSS competence is an important part of professional readiness.
The 2025 certification record shows that GMDSS remained one of India’s major nautical certification categories. It also reveals which MMD issued the most certificates and how the total certification volume was divided between Mumbai, Noida, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, and Kandla.
GMDSS stands for Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. It is an internationally recognised communication system that uses satellite and terrestrial radio technologies to send distress alerts and support maritime safety communication during emergencies at sea.
The system also helps ships receive navigational warnings, weather information, and other maritime safety messages. Its purpose is to ensure that rescue authorities and nearby vessels can be alerted quickly when a ship or crew faces a serious emergency.
According to the 2025 STCW certification record, a total of 8,916 GMDSS CoCs were issued during the year. This made GMDSS one of the most active nautical-grade certification categories in the record.
The high number reflects continued certification activity among deck officers and other eligible candidates. It also shows that communication competence remains an important part of the training and certification system for seafarers working on modern vessels.
The record shows that 8,294 GMDSS certificates were issued in 2024, compared with 8,916 certificates in 2025. This means 622 more certificates were issued during 2025.
The increase was approximately 7.5% compared with the previous year. A one-year increase does not automatically prove higher job demand, but it clearly shows that GMDSS certification activity remained strong rather than declining in 2025.
MMD Mumbai issued the highest number of GMDSS certificates in 2025. It recorded 3,012 certificates, placing it clearly ahead of every other MMD included in the certification record.
Mumbai alone handled approximately 33.8% of the total GMDSS CoCs issued during the year. In simple words, around one out of every three GMDSS certificates in the record was issued through MMD Mumbai.
MMD Noida ranked second with 2,256 GMDSS certificates. Although its number was lower than Mumbai, it still handled more than one-fourth of the national total included in the 2025 record.
Mumbai and Noida together issued 5,268 certificates, representing approximately 59.1% of the total. This means these two MMDs alone handled more than half of all GMDSS CoCs issued during 2025.
MMD Kolkata ranked third with 1,345 certificates, while MMD Chennai followed with 1,237 certificates. Both centres made a significant contribution to the overall GMDSS certification activity during the year.
Kolkata accounted for approximately 15.1% of the total, while Chennai accounted for around 13.9%. Together, these two MMDs issued 2,582 certificates, making them important GMDSS certification centres after Mumbai and Noida.
MMD Kochi issued 946 GMDSS certificates in 2025. This represented approximately 10.6% of the total and placed Kochi fifth among the six MMDs included in the record.
MMD Kandla issued 120 certificates, representing around 1.3% of the total. Its certification volume was much smaller, but this does not reduce its official role. It only shows that GMDSS issuance was not equally divided among all MMDs.
The complete 2025 ranking was Mumbai with 3,012 certificates, Noida with 2,256, Kolkata with 1,345, Chennai with 1,237, Kochi with 946, and Kandla with 120 certificates.
These six figures add up to the national total of 8,916. Based on these numbers, the top three MMDs—Mumbai, Noida, and Kolkata—handled approximately 74.2% of all GMDSS certificates issued during 2025.
The certification record shows the number issued by each MMD, but it does not explain why some centres handled more candidates. Higher volumes may be influenced by candidate location, examination schedules, available infrastructure, processing capacity, and the number of maritime institutes nearby.
Therefore, seafarers should not assume that a higher certificate number means an easier examination or faster approval. The figures show certification volume only. They do not compare examination difficulty, pass percentage, processing time, or quality between different MMDs.
A higher number of certificates from Mumbai or Noida does not prove that obtaining a certificate through those centres is easier. A larger centre may simply receive and process a greater number of eligible applications.
Similarly, a smaller number from Kandla does not mean the process is harder. Certificate issuance depends on the number of eligible candidates, successful examinations, completed documentation, and applications processed during the year.
Candidates should first confirm their eligibility, approved course requirements, examination process, application procedure, and documents. They should also check whether their name, INDOS number, CDC information, training certificates, and other profile details are correctly updated.
Preparation should begin well before the expected examination or application date. GMDSS candidates must understand distress procedures and radio communication instead of depending only on memorised questions. Practical communication knowledge remains important for actual bridge duties and emergencies.
The 2025 record clearly shows that MMD Mumbai led GMDSS certificate issuance with 3,012 CoCs. Noida ranked second with 2,256, followed by Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, and Kandla. Overall issuance increased from 8,294 in 2024 to 8,916 in 2025.
GMDSS should never be treated as only a document needed for career progression. It represents an important safety responsibility. If you want to book the GMDSS Course by comparing colleges and fees throughout India then book your course through STCW Course Finder and candidates can also get PYQs and prepare for the exam through GMDSS exam portal use Sailor Pro App app to organise certificates and track their expiry dates.
GMDSS CoC is a maritime communication Certificate of Competency connected with the operation of radio equipment and recognised distress, safety, and routine communication procedures at sea.
A total of 8,916 GMDSS CoCs were issued during 2025, according to the STCW certification record.
MMD Mumbai issued the highest number of GMDSS certificates in 2025, with a total of 3,012 certificates.
MMD Noida ranked second with 2,256 GMDSS certificates, accounting for approximately 25.3% of the total.
MMD Kolkata issued 1,345 GMDSS certificates and ranked third in the 2025 record.
Yes. Issuance increased from 8,294 certificates in 2024 to 8,916 in 2025, representing growth of approximately 7.5%.
No. A higher issuance number shows that more certificates were processed or issued. It does not prove that the examination or certification process was easier.
No. Employment also depends on the candidate’s Certificate of Competency, rank, sea service, medical fitness, documents, interview performance, and available vacancies.
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